The Houthis of Yemen, who are dependent on Iran, have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, this time targeting airports and energy facilities. In an attack on Saturday at Riyadh International Airport, 13 people lost their lives and over 300 were injured. In a second attack on Sunday, another civilian was killed and 11 others were injured.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia's Key Infrastructure
The Houthis also attacked the Saudi airport in Dammam and two other oil facilities in the past 24 hours. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud warned about the implications of these attacks on energy security and reported a strong response.
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Reports from an American think tank indicate that Saudi Arabia is targeting Houthi missile launch bases, storage facilities, and other military infrastructure in Yemen. Saudi military spokesman Turki Al-Maliki reported that 136 military targets have been destroyed so far.
Challenges of Continuing War and Changing Strategy
However, the military intervention by Saudi Arabia, which began in 2015, has failed to defeat the Houthis. The international coalition led by Saudi Arabia, formed in 2015, is now severely weakened, and the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn its forces from Yemen. The Houthis not only control large parts of northern Yemen but have increasingly taken over the western coasts, from where they continue to attack international fleets in the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
In early September, drone attacks also caused serious damage to Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline, leading to a temporary halt in oil exports and increasing risks for energy markets. The Saudi government has been seeking allies in the fight against the Houthis for weeks, and in late September, Britain and France announced their military support to defend Saudi infrastructure.
While the United States has recently opted out of military presence alongside Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, political analysts suggest there may be a change of opinion in Washington. These analysts believe that whether Saudi Arabia can provide the necessary financial resources, political commitment, and will to continue the war remains uncertain.
Markus Schneider, project manager at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, also believes that ground forces are needed to eliminate the Houthis, but Saudi Arabia lacks experience in this type of warfare, especially in foreign countries. Therefore, it seems that Saudi leadership is more focused on reducing vulnerability and securing a broad coalition of its partners.
It is essential to note that the Houthis are well entrenched in Yemen and can withstand significant blows. Saudi Arabia needs stability to achieve its Vision 2030 reforms, and this goal now seems further away than ever.
Security Cooperation in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia may also be inclined to cooperate with the United Arab Emirates. According to reports, Anwar Gargash, senior diplomatic advisor to the President of the UAE, has called for closer security cooperation among Gulf countries. He also emphasized the need to revive collaborations, especially in security and defense fields.
Currently, Saudi Arabia is seeking additional military support and security cooperation, but whether these actions will lead to an effective strategy depends on better coordination of Yemeni government forces.
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